Book Eater

Chapter 224: Babarino Plains (3)

Theo was convinced that the magician before him, Marquis Fergana, wasn’t as powerful as his previous opponents. At the same time, it wasn’t the fairest of comparisons.

His previous opponents had all been monsters from the Age of Mythology. Anyone would be ashamed if they were compared to something like a wicked dragon that ruled the seas.

Okay, let’s try it!

Theo didn’t hesitate and moved accordingly.

Wuuuong...!

His seven Circles rotated as his magic power rippled off his body. One of the most basic principles of a magic battle was to dominate the mana on the battlefield. However, Theo felt strange as he did so. He had fought many opponents, including sword masters, but this was his first time fighting with a traditional magician. Space started to distort between the two magicians.

The power of the 7th Circle magicians, both of whom could be described as one-man armies, collided and created an inevitable storm that hit the soldiers several hundred meters away.

One summoned a lightning bolt while the other produced a whirlwind. The battle between masters was enough to be called a natural disaster.

“Now then...” Marquis Fergana cracked his knuckles. “... Let’s start!”

Theo responded by extending both palms.

Kwarururung... Kwakwakwang!

A blue lightning bolt shot forward and impacted a wall of red flames, causing a magnificent explosion. The marquis had cast Thunderbolt, while Theo had blocked with Flare Burst. Both of them had shot 6th Circle attack spells at each other. The sky momentarily brightened, and a roar echoed across Babarino Plains.

But both magicians were stunned.

This punk reacted to my Thunderbolt?

What’s with that ridiculous casting speed?

Theo was confident in his own casting speed after receiving special training from Sylvia and acquiring affinities with the four elements. With a few exceptions, he could cast any 7th Circle magic as a weapon, but Marquis Fergana showed more than that. Marquis Fergana had literally cast at lightning speed, which caused a new theory to appear in Theo’s mind.

Like lightning? Perhaps Marquis Fergana’s Sorcery...

Unfortunately, there was no room for further thoughts.

Kwarururung!

A barrage of lightning bolts were already screaming through the air at Theo. This time, the casting was so quick that Theo couldn’t even see hand gestures or the mouth moving. Marquis Fergana was trying to overwhelm him with pure offense.

Theo quickly decided to avoid the lightning. No matter how fast an attack was, he could easily avoid it. However, this was the first time Marquis Fergana was seeing something like this.

“How the hell is he avoiding my lightning with a human body?”

Fergana’s magic was based on his Sorcery, which allowed him to have speed and power comparable to that of real lightning. It was immeasurably quicker than arrows, and was powerful enough to melt steel.

Even Earl Mersen hadn’t been able to defend when he’d tested his Sorcery out in a spar. Yet the lightning he was so proud of couldn’t land a hit on a magician who had just become a master? Marquis Fergana’s magic power grew increasingly rougher.

Theo had no idea what the marquis was thinking; he was admiring and trying to figure out the marquis’ Sorcery. The marquis had managed to avoid Magic Bullet, and he also had high-speed casting. Perhaps Marquis Fergana’s Sorcery was—

Is it a control ability related to the lightning attribute? His reflexes were increased to a tremendous level... Maybe he can integrate with lightning like my [Forced Harmonization].

If so, his opponent’s combat ability was amazing. Unlike Theo, who had awoken his Sorcery recently, Marquis Fergana was highly skilled and wasn’t easily shaken. Theo didn’t know about Orta, but it would be extremely dangerous if Baek Jongmyung encountered the marquis.

I have to put him down here.

Marquis Fergana was strong. Theo knew it, but he was still convinced of his victory. If Fergana’s attacks were based on lightning, then he still had a chance.

Dduk.

Theo suddenly stopped in midair. Caught off guard, Marquis Fergana reflexively unleashed a blue Thunderbolt at his stationary opponent.

Kwarurung!

That didn’t mean he’d stopped thinking. Marquis Fergana kept thinking after firing the lightning bolt. His instincts furiously warned him that Theo wouldn’t have made such a basic mistake.

Marquis Fergana’s intuition was proven right. He had fired Thunderbolt, however...

“-What?!”

It passed through Theo’s body!

Got him!

Theo didn’t miss that tiny slip of his guard. He had fashioned this trap by relying on his Sorcery. Theo had temporarily turned into lightning due to Forced Harmonization, so lightning magic had no effect on him.

Still in Forced Harmonization, Theo shot toward the marquis so quickly that it seemed like he vanished before appearing before his opponent. A knee slammed heavily into Marquis Fergana’s abdomen.

Kwaduduk!

Marquis Fergana coughed up blood. “Kuheook!”

The marquis had no time to defend himself. His ribs shattered under the impact and tore through his lungs. The shock from the attack spread, damaging his entire body. It was half a miracle that it wasn’t an instantly lethal blow.

Pajijijik!

Theo cocked his head as he heard a strange sound. Marquis Fergana had turned into lightning like Theo and was running away. He wasn’t running in a straight line but in a zigzag pattern. Despite being badly injured, Fergana’s movements were far more sophisticated than Theo. If he tried to pursue, he would be surrounded by Duke Cornwall’s troops.

Theo sighed and shrugged. “... Well, haven’t I achieved my purpose?”

Even though Marquis Fergana had escaped, his injury was serious. Barring a miracle, he wouldn’t be making a second appearance in this civil war. His injuries were severe enough that it actively threatened his life and magic circulation system. He wouldn’t be able to get out of bed for half a year unless he had a potion like Theo. A swordmaster could borrow the strength of divine power to heal themselves, but that wasn’t an option for a magician.

Just as divine power resisted magic, magic resisted divine power. Even a cardinal couldn’t do anything against the resistance of a master magician. Thus, Theo had succeeded in his original objective of getting rid of Marquis Fergana. He had done enough for one person.

However, Theo wasn’t satisfied yet. The Babarino Plains were still filled with the soldiers’ shouts and the sound of metal clashing, so it was too premature to decide that the royal faction had won.

No, not yet. The battlefield is still in flux, even if I have defeated Marquis Fergana. I need to thoroughly cement the advantage.

Alfred’s instincts for battle were calling out. This was not the moment to withdraw, but the moment that could decide victory or defeat in the war. Theo looked through Hugin’s eyes, half marveling at the sharpness of his summon’s eyes.

- Five kilometers to the east, Viscount Carter is battling the priests.

- Four kilometers to the southwest, Teacher and fifteen war magicians are pushing forward.

- Seven kilometers to the northeast...

Theo’s vision narrowed in on some unexpected movements. There were three people fighting, and one of them was a master who was really familiar to him.

That... Is it Master Baek and Tower Master? And the paladin.

Mana was swirling as two masters attacked Ruben. No matter how strong Ruben’s recovery ability was, he would die if two masters went after him. He was also in far more danger as Baek Jongmyung was now thoroughly aiming for Ruben’s head. There was no way he could pull off another trick like the last time they’d met. The paladin was screaming about cowardice, but this was war, not some duel. Nevertheless, he was still struggling under the pincer attack.

Theo turned his gaze to other areas of the battlefield. No, it was more correct to say that he tried to. He was thinking that the prince’s victory was clear when it happened.

―――――――――!

Somewhere, a volcano exploded. That was the only explanation for the deafening sound. The sky and the earth were torn apart, and the soldiers couldn’t even scream as dust covered the sky and the clouds turned red.

“Who could even..”

A large amount of dust was rising in the northwest, on the opposite side of the confrontation between the three masters. Theo might’ve thought a volcano really had exploded, but there was no volcanic ash in the air. In other words, this wasn’t a natural phenomenon.

This was sheer strength that turned several hills to rubble and reduced thousands of humans into pulp. It meant there was a presence who could artificially exercise this power.

Gulp.?

Theo instinctively had an ominous feeling.

The enemy...

The duke might’ve received some blows, but it was nothing compared to the damage received by the prince’s side. There was only one candidate who was strong enough to appear on the battlefield on Duke Cornwall’s side.

Pan Helliones!

The Empire’s 4th Sword, Helliones of the Super Heavy Sword... It wasn’t impossible for that monster to destroy a mountain with one blow. Normally, reality didn’t match the rumors, but he seemed like a greater monster than the rumors described.

Pan Helliones was obviously stronger than Baek Jongmyung or Randolph. A swordmaster who had been at the peak for thirty years, the fourth sword of Andras, had entered the battlefield.

Theo looked at the rising dust cloud and continued to think. He had a plan to confront Pan with Randolph, depending on whether he could get Orta or Baek Jongmyung’s cooperation or whether he needed to take out the automaton.

However, before Theo could make a decision, his communications earring started to vibrate. Randolph was trying to get in touch with him.

[Theo, can you hear me?]

[... I hear you. What is the situation?]

Randolph’s voice was distressed. Clearly, he didn’t know what he should do.

[Damn, I don’t know! Pan Helliones, that bastard just rushed into the middle of the battlefield! I don’t know where you are, but do you see the dust cloud?]

[Yes, is that on your side?]

[I’m not there yet, but I’ll be there soon. It doesn’t look like we can follow the plan, so what should we do?]

The two had planned to ambush Pan Helliones with a pincer attack. Theo didn’t know why Pan Helliones wasn’t acting normally, but if they left that monster alone, the prince’s side would be destroyed. The battle might end with just two or three more attacks.

Theo gritted his teeth and declared.

[... Let’s go.]

In any case, Helliones was an opponent who needed to be defeated. So, Theo and Randolph would also attack like planned. When Randolph heard Theo’s determination through the communication device, he responded excitedly

[It can’t be helped, huh? In the end, it’s a frontal match? I’m trembling.]

His enthusiasm was infectious.

[But he’s still a better opponent than that monster from last time. Moreover, isn’t it two against one?]

[Haha! It is exactly as you said. Let’s stick together, partner!]

Theo had gone through many crises, so he could tell. There was no benefit in avoiding the fight here. The enemy he would have had to face one day had come to face him now. So, if he stepped back, he would be standing on the edge of a cliff.

Even so, victory wasn’t certain, so Theo couldn’t help grumbling as he shot toward the northwest.

Pan Helliones, the worst hurdle on the battlefield, was waiting.